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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah:Hashem created the world so that all remedies in the world are results of necessity, e.g., He arranged that the peel (which protects fruit from various damages) comes before the fruit. The need created by a problem is that which brings one to find the solution.
Let us look at the needs of society that make a king [or another form of strong leadership] necessary. First there is social unrest within society, which makes the people realize that they need a strong king to restore internal tranquility. Thus, "the noise" is a first step before and leading to the kingdom.
"After the noise" – when things are calm and society has gotten up on its feet, there is a need to be strengthened as a nation. No nation will succeed without gaining at the expense of another nation, and thus rivalries and even enmities develop. This is the pasuk’s reference to the fire, of war, that is found in the beginning of nationhood and kingship.
The final stage, after the fire, is the respite and quiet that accompanies the smooth function of leadership for the betterment of the whole nation. This "sound of a subtle whisper" is the ultimate purpose of a kingdom, not the triumphs in internal struggles or external wars.
Just as on a national level all strive for a life of tranquility and peace fitting of the righteous, so too for the individual such serenity is most desirable, not a life of noise and wild activity. Therefore, when a completely righteous man goes out to greet the king, it is not to witness the noise and power of the sight, but to relate to the power of justice and the love of tranquility that he wishes for himself and for others. It is to support these goals that he goes to show respect and strengthen the king’s standing.
"The kingdom of the land is like the Kingdom of the Heavens" – [The next section is based on Sanhedrin 97a: "The period of the world is 6,000 years – 2,000 of void; 2,000 of Torah; and 2,000 of the days of Mashiach."] There are different periods in the history of the world, over which Hashem has presided as King. First there were 2,000 years of void and lack of stability, in which in some ways mankind’s level was lower than that of the animals. Mankind had bad personal attributes and lack of sensitivity, which can be represented by tumult, because of a lack of divine light. In order to uproot these wild, dark tendencies, our Torah and mitzvot came to refine mankind as by a melting crucible. The Torah and its role for man can be described by fire (see Yirmiyahu 23:29). After man’s characteristics are refined, there is no longer a need for struggles. Then the purpose of mitzvot will not be to refine man but to elevate his spirit greatly through a tranquility of knowledge of things that are said in a whisper. Since this quiet will come with a true knowledge of Hashem (see Yeshaya 11:9), this will force mankind as a whole to know Hashem and love His Kingdom, just as the lack of order necessitates people to accept an organized kingdom.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
